Automatic filling-machine.



No. 773,573. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.. w. KOEDDING.

AUTOMATIG'PILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00114, 1903.

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' W. KOBDDING.

. AUTOMATIC FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.14, 1903.

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No. 773,573. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

W. KOEDDING. AUTOMATIC FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0002.14, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM KOEDDING, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO WM. J. LEMP BREWING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC FILLING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,573, dated November 1, 1904.

Application filed October 14, 1903.

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAu KOEDDING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Automatic Filling-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for filling bottles and other receptacles with liquid, and has for its principal objects to fill bottles from a tank containing liquid undergaseous pressure, to open communication between the bottle and the gas-filled portion of the tank before the liquid is admitted and to continue it after the liquid is cut ofi', to regulate the admission of gas under pressure to the tank, to fill bottles automatically, and other objects hereinafter appearing.

My invention consists in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure l is a front view of my machine with parts in section and the bottle-carrier shown conventionally. Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, a portion of the bottle-carriers being removed to show the cam-guide more clearly. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail sectional views of the individual filling mechanism and bottle-carriers when the bottle is in its uppermost and lowermost positions, respectively. Fig. 5 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, of the filling mechanism, all valves being open. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged top and side views, respectively, of the bottle-seat. Fig. 8 is a top view of the petticoat. I

The frame of the machine is constructed of a base-plate 1, resting upon legs 2 2, and a bearing-bar 3 at the top supported from the base-plate by the spacing-bars 4 5. Bearings for the rotating parts of the machine are provided in the base-plate and bearing-bar. For convenience in assembling or disassembling the machine the bearing-bar consists of two sections 3 3", which are pivoted on the bars Serial No. 176,989. (No model.)

A and supply-tank B are rotatably mounted in the frame. The drum A has upper and lower circular frames 8 9, connected by guidestrips 10 and guide-rods 11 and a shaft 12, which is journaled at its lower end in a stepbearing 13 in the base-plate. At its upper end the shaft telescopes into a tubular projection on the bottom of the body of the tank B. The tank is provided with a cover having an upwardly-extending tubular projection 14, which serves as the upper journal of the rotating parts and is journaled in the hearing in the bearing-bar 3.

The cover of the supply-tank has a downwardly-extending tubular projection 15, which is a continuation of the projection 14. A liquid-suppl'ypipe 16 extends through the tube thus formed. A gland 17 in the top of the projection 14 prevents the escape of gas or liquid from the tank; while permitting relative rotation of the tank and the supply pipe. A gas-supply pipe 18 is arranged inside of the liquid-supply pipe 16 and has a T at the lower end leading through the latter pipe. Openings in the tubular projection l5'communicate with the space between it and the supply-pipe and permit the escape of the gas to the space above the liquid. The pipes 16 and 18 lead from a diaphragm pressure-regulator O. A pipe 19 leads from the liquid-supply to the pressure-regulator, discharging into it upon one side of a diaphragm 20. A pipe 21 leads from a source of gas-supply and discharges into the pressure-regulator upon the other side of the diaphragm 20. A valve '22 is connected to the diaphragm and has its seat 23 in the passage from the pipe 21 to the chamber adjacent the diaphragm. On-the side of the valve opposite the diaphragm a spring 24 is arranged, bearing upon the valve at one end and upon a screw 25 at the other, by

which means the pressure of the spring on the valve may be adjusted.

From the supply-tank B pairs of pipes 26 27 lead from the upper part or gas-space and the lower part or liquid-space of the tank, respectively, down to the filling mechanisms D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the filling mechanisms are shown conventionally. Below the filling mechanisms are arranged bottle-carriers E, which move vertically, guided by the guide-strips 10 and guide-rods 11. At the lower end of the bottle-carriers are rollers 28, which extend between the strips of a cam-guide 29, that extends entirely around the drum A. The cam-guide 29 rises from its lowermost portion 28 to its uppermost portion 28 in a little less than ninety degrees. This permits the uppermost portion 28 to have an extent of substantially one hundred and eighty degrees. By the rotation of the drum the bottle-carriers are carried round, and the cam-guide forces them from their lowermost position, where the bottles are put on, and removed to their uppermost position, where the bottles are filled.

The drum and supply-tank are rotated by means of a gear-wheel 30, rigidly mounted upon the shaft 12, which meshes with a gearwheel 30, that receives its motion through a worm and worm-wheel gearing 31 32 from the shaft 33 of a pulley receiving power from any source.

There may be as many filling mechanisms and bottle-carriers arranged on the drum as desired. In the machine taken for the purpose of illustration of the invention there are twenty-four. Their construction and operation are illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

The drum A is provided with brackets 34, which form bases for the filling mechanisms. Each has an upwardly-extending tubular projection 35, enlarged in diameter intermediate its ends to provide a seat for a spring 76 and provided at its upper end with a packinggland 77.

The liquid-supply pipe 27 extends downwardly through the tube 35 to the desired distance below the bracket. On the outside of and closely fitting the pipe 27 is a valve-pipe 36, which is closed at its lower end by a screw 37, supporting a gasket 38. By means of the screw 37 the gasket may be vertically adjusted. The valve-pipe 36 is moved relatively to the liquid-supply pipe 27 by means to be hereinafter described. When in its uppermost posit-ion, the gasket 38 ispressed against the nozzle of the supply-pipe 27 and closes it. An opening 39 in the side of the valve-pipe permits the escape of the liquid. The section of the discharge-opening and of the valve-pipe is larger than that of the nozzle, and hence the velocity of discharge of the liquid is reduced. This arrangement is of importance when dealing with effervescent liquors, such as beer, which are liable to rupture.

The gas-supply pipe 26 extends downwardly and is permanently connected at its lower end to the bracket 34. Near its lower end this pipe is reduced in diameter. A pipe 40, which is sealed at its upper end and has an orifice 41 near its upper end, fits closely within the reduced portion of the pipe 26. At its lower end it is connected to the reciprocating head 42 of the filling mechanism, which moves with the bottle-support E. A rod 43, provided with a collar 44, is mounted in an opening at the outer end of the bracket 34. A yoke 45 is loosely mounted on the rod 43 and is held up by a spring 46, resting on the collar 44. The downwardly-extending arms of the yoke are pivotally connected to levers 47, pivotal] y mounted on the tubular projection 35. A link 48 connects the levers 47 to the arm 48, rigidly connected to the top of the valve-pipe and projecting through a slot the walls of which serve as stops.

The reciprocating head 42 is mounted upon a tube 49, surrounding the guide-rod 11. At its forward end it has a screw-threaded opening, in which is inserted a screw 50, having a valve-seat 51 and passage 52, communicating with the gas-supply pipe. A valve 53 cooperates with the valve-seat 51. Near the middle the head 42 has an opening in which a sealing-pipe 54 is mounted. The sealingpipe fits the valve-pipe closely and has at its lower end an opening 55, through which the gas-supply passes to an annular chamber 56, formed by increasing the internal diameter of the pipe near its end. Upon the under side of the head 42 a petticoat 57 is fastened to receive the mouth of the bottle to be filled. The petticoat projects over a seat in the head and holds therein a gasket 58, which serves to make a tight joint with the top of the bottle. The petticoat is made easily removable, for it is desirable to use different shapes to suit the different shapes of bottle-mouths. The preferred construction is shown in Fig. 8. The petticoat has oppositely-extending ears 57, which are provided with oppositely-extending slots 57, through which fasteningscrews pass. To remove the petticoat, it is only necessary to loosen the screws and then turn the petticoat about its vertica laXis.

The bottle-carrier E has a tubular portion 59, which surrounds the tube 49, upon which the reciprocating head 42 is mounted. On the bottom of the tube 49 is a collar. 60. A bracket 61 projects from the tube 59 and together with a projection 62 forms the upper bearing for a spring 63, resting upon the collar 60. Upon the lower end of the bracket 61 is a stud 64, which carries the cam-guide-engaging roller. In the face of the bracket 61 is a seat for the stem 66 of the bottle-seat 65. The bottle-seat is provided on its face with a rubber gasket or cushion 67. At the sides it is provided with flanges 68 69, converging toward the neath the petticoat 57. Different sizes of v tends from the rear of the bottle-seat 65 and embraces the tube 59. The sides of the yoke are straight, so as to bear upon the adjacent guide-strips 10.

The operation of the machine is as follows: \Vhen the bottle-carrier is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 4, theliquid-supply pipe 27 is closed by the gasket 38, the valvepipe having been drawn upwardly by the spring 76. The pipe is lowered until its opening etl is closed by entering the restricted portion of the gas-supply pipe 26. The spring 63 is compressed and the bottle-seat is a little more than a bottles length below the petticoat in, so that the bottle may be inserted beneath it. Upon the rotation of the drum the cam-guide forces the bottle-carrier upwardly. Due to the action of the spring 63 the reciprocating head 42 is held down until the mouth of the bottle engages the gasket above the petticoat. By this arrangement the bottle is firmly seated and sealed before any portion of the valves is moved. The reciprocating head 42 is carried up by the bottle, and if it should 'happen that a bottle-carrier should fail to rethe compressed gas is admitted to the bottle, raising the pressure in it to that in the tank B. This occurs some seconds before the head strikes the rod 43, so that there is no possibility of the liquid being admitted to the bottle before the pressure within it is equal to the pressure in the tank. Upon further upward movement the reciprocating head engages the rod 43, which carries the yoke 45 upwardly, and thus through the intermediate levers and link lowers the valve-pipe 36, thus admitting the liquid. Figs. 3 and 5 show the valves in this the filling position. The valves are thus held for substantially a halfrevolu tion, the speed of revolution being properly timed to permit the bottles to be filled in this time. If the bottle should be filled before the liquid-supply is cut off and tend to flow into the gas-supply pipe, it will entrain the valve 53, and thus close the passage. This provision valves are closed and the full bottle may be removed and an empty bottle put in its place.

Each of the sets of mechanisms performs the same cycle of operations. Hence after the machine is once filled twenty-four bottles can be filled every revolution with the machine used to illustrate the invention.

Obviously the machine admits of modification within the scope of my invention, and 1 do not wish to be restricted to the specific construction hereinbefore described.

What I claim is 1. An automatic filling-machine comprising a frame, a drum rotatably mounted therein, a series of filling mechanisms on said drum provided with liquid-supply and gas-supply valves, and a common actuating means operatively connected to said filling mechanisms.

2. An automatic filling-machine comprising a frame, a drum and a cam-guide mounted on said frame so as to have relative rotatory move ment, a tank mounted on said frame to move with said drum, and a series of filling mechanisms on said drum and operatively connected to said cam-guide.

3. An automatic filling-machine comprising a frame, a drum rotatably mounted therein, a series of filling mechanisms on said drum each having a valve-actuating head, guides on said drum for said valve-actuating head, a camguide, and means operatively connecting said cam-guide and valve-actuating head.

4. An automatic filling-machine comprising a frame, a tank and a drum rotatably mounted in said frame, a series of filling mechanisms on said drum, and a like series of pairs of pipes leading from said tank to said filling mechanisms respectively, one pipe of each pair communicating with theupper part of said tank and the other communicating with the lower part.

5. A filling-machine comprising a frame, a

bottle-carrier movably mounted thereon, a filling mechanism on said frame having a valveactuating head adapted to be moved with said bottle-carrier, and a guide commonto' said bottle-carrier and valve-actuating head.

6. A filling-machine comprising a frame, a bottle-carrier movably mounted thereon, a filling mechanism on said frame having a valveactuating head adapted to be moved with said bottle-carrier, said bottle-carrier and head having relative movement at the beginning and end of each cycle of operations, and a guide common to said bottle-carrier and valveactuating head.

7. A filling-machine comprising a frame, a bottle-carrier, a filling mechanism mounted on said frame and comprising a base and a movable valve-actuating head, said base of said filling mechanism and said bottle-carrier being relatively movable, and said valve-actuating head having substantially the same amount of movement relative to said base as said bottle-carrier, and a guide common to IIO said bottle-carrier and said valve-actuating head.

8. A filling-machine comprising a frame, a bottle-carrier movably mounted on said frame, a filling mechanism having a movable valveactuating head, a yielding connection between said bottle-carrier and said head, whereby said bottle-carrier and head may have relative movement.

9. A filling-machine comprising a frame, a bottle-carrier movably mounted thereon, and a filling mechanism mounted on said frame and having liquid supply and gas-supply valves and a movable valve-actuating head, adapted to be engaged by a bottle on said bottle-carrier and to be moved thereby by the movement of said bottle-carrier.

10. A filling-machine comprising a frame, a filling mechanism thereon having a relatively movable valve-actuating head, an extension on said head adapted to engage said frame and limit its downward movement, a bottle-carrier beneath said head and a spring seated on said extension and engaging said bottle-carrier.

11. A filling mechanism comprising a base, gas-supply andliquid-supply pipes rigidly connected to said base, valve-pipes controlling discharge from said pipes, and avalve-actuating head operatively connected to said valvepipes.

12. A filling mechanism comprising a base, gas-supply and liquid-supply pipes rigidly connected to said base, relatively movable valvepipes for said supply-pipes controlling discharge therefrom, and a valve-actuating head operatively connected to said valve-pipes.

13. A filling mechanism comprising a base, a liquid-supply pipe rigidly connected to said base, a relatively movable valve pipe surrounding said liquid-supply pipe and having a discharge-orifice near its lower end and a seal for the mouth of said supply-pipe,a valveactuating head, and operative connection between said head and said valve-pipe.

14:. A filling mechanism comprising a base, a gas-supply pipe rigidly connected to said base, a valve-actuating head havingagas-passage therethrough and movable relatively to said base, and a valve-pipe on said head communicating with said gas-passage and having telescoping connection with said gas-supply tube.

15. A filling mechanism comprising a base, a gas-supply-pipe rigidly connected to said base and reduced in internal diameter near its lower end, a relatively movable valve-actuating head. having a gas-passage therethrough and a check-valve therein, and avalve-pipe on said head communicating with said gas-passage and having telescoping connection with said gas-supply tube.

16. A filling mechanism comprising a base having a tubular projection thereon, a liquidsupply pipe extending therethrough, a relatively movable valve-pipe having telescoping connection with and adapted to seal said supply-pipe, a lever pivoted on said tubular projection and connected to said valve-pipe, a vertically-movable rod connected to said lever, and a valve-actuating head in operative relation to said rod.

17. A filling mechanism comprising a base, a gas-supply pipe rigidly connected to said baseand reduced in internal diameter near its lower end, a valve-actuating head having a gas-passage therethrough and movable relatively to said base, and a valve-pipe on said head, sealed at the top, communicating with said gas-passage, closely fitting within said gas-supply pipe and having an opening near its upper end in position to be closed by the wall of said gas-supply pipe during a portion of the movement of said valve-pipe.

18. An automatic filling-machine comprising a frame, a drum rotatably mounted therein, a series of filling mechanisms on said drum, a tank mounted to rotate with said drum, said filling mechanisms being fixed with respect to said tank, liquid-supply and gas-supply pipes connecting saidfilling mechanisms and tank, valves for said pipes, and actuating means operatively connected to said filling mechanisms, said actuating means being common to all the filling mechanisms.

19. An automatic filling-machine compris ing a frame, a drum and a cam-guide mounted on said frame so as to have relative rotary movement, a tank mounted in said frame and fixed relatively to said drum, and a series of filling mechanisms on said drum connected by liquid-supply and gas-supply pipes with said tank and operatively connected to said cam-guide.

20. An automatic filling-machine comprising a frame, a drum rotatably mounted therein, a series of filling mechanisms each having a base fixed on said drum and a plurality of valves operatively connected to a valve-actuating head movable relatively to said base, guides on said drum for said valve-actuating head, a cam-guide and means operatively connecting said cam-guide and valve-actuating head.

21. An automatic filling-machine comprising a frame, a tank and a drum rotatably mounted in said frame, a series of filling mechanisms each having a base mounted on said drum and fixed with respect to said tank, and a like series of pairs of pipes leading from said tank to said filling mechanism, each pair of pipes being rigidly connected to the base of its respective filling mechanism, and one pipe of each pair communicating with the upper part of said tank and the other communicating with the lower part.

22. A filling mechanism comprising a base, gas-supply and liquid-supply pipes rigidly connected to said base, a valve-actuating head, a valve-pipe for one of said supply-pipes mounted on saidihead, and a valve-pipe for the other of said supply-pipes operatively connected to said head.

23. A filling mechanism comprising a base, gas-supply and liquid-supply pipes rigidly connected to said base, avalve-actuating head, and valve-pipes controlling discharge from said supply-pipes operatively connected to said valve-actuating head, the valve-pipe for said gas-supply pipe being moved by said head to open said pipe before the liquid-supply pipe is opened.

24. A filling mechanism comprising a base, gas-supply and liquid-supply pipes rigidly connected to said base, a valve-pipe controlling the discharge from said gas-supply pipe, a valve-pipe controlling the discharge from WILLIAM KOEDDING.

Witnesses:

J. B. MEGOWN, FRED F. REISNER. 

